India-Nepal Youth Roundtable Champions Cultural Ties and Regional Growth

Aiming to fortify the deep-rooted cultural, civilizational, and people-to-people ties between India and Nepal, the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), in collaboration with the Government of India, is hosting a Young Leaders’ Delegation from Nepal between 3rd and 12th August 2025. This high-impact youth engagement programme spans New Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai, and includes a series of policy dialogues, cultural immersions, and leadership exchanges.

At the heart of the delegation’s visit was the Youth Leaders’ Roundtable Conference, convened on 5th August 2025 at Bhaskara Conference Hall, Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The conference was jointly organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), and ORF, and chaired by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Attendees included young Members of Parliament from India and a 10–12-member delegation of emerging political leaders from Nepal, representing various political parties.

Strengthening Youth Diplomacy and Bilateral Ties

The Roundtable focused on the theme “The Role of Youth Exchanges and Sports in Indo-Nepal Bilateral Relations,” and aimed to elevate youth diplomacy as a key pillar of India-Nepal relations. It served as a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas, exploring common challenges, and proposing collaborative approaches to drive inclusive development in the region.

In his keynote address, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized the civilizational and spiritual bonds that connect India and Nepal. “This enduring partnership must be further strengthened through mutual respect and shared heritage,” he said, adding that youth-led cooperation and regional engagement are critical to ensuring this vision.

He also underscored the transformative governance approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly with respect to empowering youth and aligning their aspirations with national goals. Highlighting ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, the Minister said, “India is not just chasing economic growth, but creating an ecosystem for youth to thrive, innovate and lead.”

Showcasing India’s Youth-Led Initiatives

Several landmark youth initiatives by the Government of India were showcased during the event:

• Khelo India and Fit India: National programmes to promote sports, physical health, and wellness across all age groups.

• Sundays on Cycle: A public movement encouraging sustainable transportation and community bonding.

• MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat): A digital-first youth platform that has already registered over 1.80 crore young Indians, offering them opportunities in volunteerism, skill-building, leadership training, and nation-building efforts.

Dr. Mandaviya stressed that MY Bharat is not merely a portal but a national movement to transform India’s youth into proactive contributors to social, economic, and political progress.

Regional Collaboration Through Youth and Sports

The Roundtable also explored pathways for deepening youth linkages between India and Nepal:

• Reviving bilateral youth exchange programmes and enabling regular interaction among political and civil society youth leaders.

• Promoting gender-inclusive participation in youth leadership, governance, and civic initiatives.

• Enhancing cooperation in sports infrastructure, training, and tournament participation.

• Joint efforts to revive traditional games and sports such as Kho Kho, Kabaddi, and Kushti (wrestling)—a shared heritage of the Indian subcontinent—aimed at promoting regional identity and taking these games to the global arena.

Nepali delegates expressed strong interest in forging new linkages with Indian institutions for capacity building in sports, political training, and civic education, while also proposing cultural collaborations to promote mutual understanding among young citizens of both countries.

Rooted in Historic Partnership: The 2014 MoU

The foundation for these initiatives is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 25th November 2014 between the Governments of Nepal and India in Kathmandu, which provides a comprehensive framework for cooperation in youth affairs and development. Under this MoU, multiple International Youth Exchange Programmes (IYEP) have already taken place over the years, offering youth in both countries valuable exposure to one another’s systems, cultures, and aspirations.

The ongoing visit is part of a sustained diplomatic and cultural outreach strategy to engage youth leaders in the region. It complements India’s larger Neighbourhood First policy, which prioritizes strong, inclusive, and people-centric relations with neighbouring countries.

The Road Ahead

As India and Nepal navigate the 21st century with youth forming the majority of their populations, such people-to-people initiatives assume greater significance. The Roundtable not only reaffirmed bilateral trust but also opened new doors for collaboration in innovation, leadership, education, entrepreneurship, and regional peacebuilding.

The event concluded with participants agreeing on the need for institutionalizing a regular youth dialogue and for expanding youth exchange formats beyond politics—into entrepreneurship, academia, climate action, and cultural diplomacy.

By harnessing the power of youth, India and Nepal are charting a shared future of partnership, peace, and prosperity.